What are the three degrees of Celestial Glory?

[Baurak Ale]

If you are standing in the celestial kingdom (singular), and you are given a white stone so you can learn about a "higher order of kingdoms", then the "kingdoms" you are to learn about are not the celestial kingdom. They are of a "higher order" than "the celestial kingdom".

Unless there really are degrees of separation within the Celestial Kingdom, which absolutely there are imho. If they do exist, you can certainly learn about the "higher order of kingdoms" within the Celestial Kingdom from within the Celestial Kingdom. Could there be kingdoms above and beyond the Celestial? Sure. However, that interpretation certainly isn't the only interpretation here.

You're trying to make the text say something it doesn't, then condemning the blog's author for not making the same mistake.

lol, take it down a notch. Nobody is condemning anyone here. This is a friendly discussion, and obviously there is no pointed revelation on what the three degrees are. There are two scriptures that indicate there are degrees within the Celestial Kingdom. Not only do they both have to be explained away for there not to be, we have to account for the many prophets who have come and went who allowed this scripture to persist:

D&C 131:1 In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees;
2 And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage];
3 And if he does not, he cannot obtain it.
4 He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase.

I labeled your criticism of the blogger as "condemnation". You can read that word however you want. I guess you chose to read it in a way that you disagree with. I meant it just as a straightforward description of your dismissal of the author's thesis, not a consignment of him to eternal damnation or something.

Neither of those two "scriptures" (read: secondhand summaries written by scribes never reviewed by Joseph or intended for canonization) demands a reading of multiple glories within the Celestial kingdom. They have both been abundantly and clearly "explained away" in this thread.

And we are no more obligated to account for multiple church leaders' acceptance of this tradition than we are obligated to explain the many other non-scriptural traditions that have been accepted as orthodoxy and perpetuated by leaders. A prophet is only a prophet when he is acting as such. The rest of the time he is as liable as anyone else to believe and pass on traditions of his upbringing. Observe the cataclysmic rejection of Joseph Smith's Elijah doctrine and its wholesale replacement by an entirely different doctrine. Why hasn't any leader since Brigham Young and Orson Pratt (who formulated the replacement doctrine) corrected the error? Why does the replacement doctrine find place in our manuals and discourse while Joseph's doctrines remain unread and unbelieved? Was Joseph wrong? The answer is: Because that's how people and institutions work. They are fallible. Their acceptance of a doctrine doesn't make it true, nor does their opposition to a doctrine make it false.

Thanks for chiming in with your opinion. I do agree there is some nuance the Doctrine in Covenants. As for degrees within the Celestial Kingdom, whether you want to say there are degrees above the CK or degrees within in the CK, D&C 130 is pretty clear that once you are in the CK, there is additional learning pertaining to higher orders. I'll chime in with my thoughts on other evidences of what this means and my personal take later. Thanks again.

This may seem facetious of me, but I’m just going to put this here:

Has anyone asked Benjamin Franklin Johnson, Joseph’s close friend, at whose house Joseph was when the revelation was given according to the William Clayton journal? His remiscenses, of which there are two versions, may shed some light.

Okay, you may resume your thread and look into or ignore this lead as you please. Though there are certainly higher kingdoms of which we know nothing both within and above the Celestial that is our goal, I won’t go into that here.

I must add though, that every knee bowing and every tongue confessing that Jesus is the Christ is only the basic requirement for entering the kingdom of God as a citizen of that kingdom, which is the telestial level. The rulers of that kingdom are priest-kings, an ecclesiastical body that is made up of a mere handful of people like a handful of sand compared to the beaches of the world, which is the Celestial level. This is all in D&C 76. Just because their baptisms are done vicariously means nothing to their worthiness and willingness to enter said covenants. Most will not be allowed for they never knew Him.

[Alaris]

Unless there really are degrees of separation within the Celestial Kingdom, which absolutely there are imho. If they do exist, you can certainly learn about the "higher order of kingdoms" within the Celestial Kingdom from within the Celestial Kingdom. Could there be kingdoms above and beyond the Celestial? Sure. However, that interpretation certainly isn't the only interpretation here.



lol, take it down a notch. Nobody is condemning anyone here. This is a friendly discussion, and obviously there is no pointed revelation on what the three degrees are. There are two scriptures that indicate there are degrees within the Celestial Kingdom. Not only do they both have to be explained away for there not to be, we have to account for the many prophets who have come and went who allowed this scripture to persist:

D&C 131:1 In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees;
2 And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage];
3 And if he does not, he cannot obtain it.
4 He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase.

I labeled your criticism of the blogger as "condemnation". You can read that word however you want. I guess you chose to read it in a way that you disagree with. I meant it just as a straightforward description of your dismissal of the author's thesis, not a consignment of him to eternal damnation or something.

Neither of those two "scriptures" (read: secondhand summaries written by scribes never reviewed by Joseph or intended for canonization) demands a reading of multiple glories within the Celestial kingdom. They have both been abundantly and clearly "explained away" in this thread.

And we are no more obligated to account for multiple church leaders' acceptance of this tradition than we are obligated to explain the many other non-scriptural traditions that have been accepted as orthodoxy and perpetuated by leaders. A prophet is only a prophet when he is acting as such. The rest of the time he is as liable as anyone else to believe and pass on traditions of his upbringing. Observe the cataclysmic rejection of Joseph Smith's Elijah doctrine and its wholesale replacement by an entirely different doctrine. Why hasn't any leader since Brigham Young and Orson Pratt (who formulated the replacement doctrine) corrected the error? Why does the replacement doctrine find place in our manuals and discourse while Joseph's doctrines remain unread and unbelieved? Was Joseph wrong? The answer is: Because that's how people and institutions work. They are fallible. Their acceptance of a doctrine doesn't make it true, nor does their opposition to a doctrine make it false.

Thanks for chiming in with your opinion. I do agree there is some nuance the Doctrine in Covenants. As for degrees within the Celestial Kingdom, whether you want to say there are degrees above the CK or degrees within in the CK, D&C 130 is pretty clear that once you are in the CK, there is additional learning pertaining to higher orders. I'll chime in with my thoughts on other evidences of what this means and my personal take later. Thanks again.

This may seem facetious of me, but I’m just going to put this here:

Has anyone asked Benjamin Franklin Johnson, Joseph’s close friend, at whose house Joseph was when the revelation was given according to the William Clayton journal? His remiscenses, of which there are two versions, may shed some light.

Okay, you may resume your thread and look into or ignore this lead as you please. Though there are certainly higher kingdoms of which we know nothing both within and above the Celestial that is our goal, I won’t go into that here.

I must add though, that every knee bowing and every tongue confessing that Jesus is the Christ is only the basic requirement for entering the kingdom of God as a citizen of that kingdom, which is the telestial level. The rulers of that kingdom are priest-kings, an ecclesiastical body that is made up of a mere handful of people like a handful of sand compared to the beaches of the world, which is the Celestial level. This is all in D&C 76. Just because their baptisms are done vicariously means nothing to their worthiness and willingness to enter said covenants. Most will not be allowed for they never knew Him.

Priests and Kings is exactly where I'm going with my thoughts on the degrees of Celestial Glory.

Any way you can just link to those reminiscings by Benjamen Franklin Johnson? I'd certainly like to read them.

I'm hoping to keep this conversation light despite the deep topic at hand - would be interested in your expounding Barauk Ale - or a PM if you don't feel you should post publicly.

[abijah]

First, I will say that I believe that if the three degrees of Celestial glory had such a delineation, they would have been revealed already. I believe the truth of the three degrees has been kept hidden along with other mysteries such as the fullness of the record of John. There's a meat element to this mystery imho. I hope to have time to chime in later with additional thoughts.

I agree with everything here. This hasn’t been a topic I’ve pondered much on or have received much revelation about. Imagine the day these ancient records will be revealed! Contemplate the dèjá vu moments we’ll have, when reading plain truths which chime with our own past personal revelations! And think of how shocked we will be, when raw spiritual axioms that we never before comprehended are laid out fresh in view.

We have exciting days ahead! I suspect there is a palpable link between the Endowment ceremony (as opposed to the drama), Temple (Solomon’s; and David’s, pictured in Ezekiel) layout/imagery, and the hidden doctrine regarding the distinguishing between the three Celestial spheres. I’ll think and study on this a bit and perhaps post any impressions I may have. I would welcome any additional insights you may have in the meantime. Your posts often have a way of sparking insights of my own.

edit: grammar correction

[Alaris]

Here's my take on the three degrees of Celestial Glory. This is what I have pieced together based off my studies and my most sacred experiences. That said, feel free to pick apart. There will be mention of MMP, so be warned if MMP causes your temperature to rise.
The least of the three degrees is where the angels are who have no progression. When you add D&C 131 and 132 together in the OP, it's a safe assumption that the least degree is that of the angels where there is no progression. I will add one caveat - that doesn't mean that these are the angels only.

In the OP, I list out the eight promises of overcoming along with the reference in D&C about the white stone.

D&C 130:10 Then the white stone mentioned in Revelation 2:17, will become a Urim and Thummim to each individual who receives one, whereby things pertaining to a higher order of kingdoms will be made known;
11 And a white stone is given to each of those who come into the celestial kingdom, whereon is a new name written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it. The new name is the key word.

OK, so we are anointed to become priests and priestesses and Kings and Queens in the sacred, holy temple. Meaning, we are neither now. How are we not Priests? Well, we are tasting of the powers of the world to come. When we overcome, the robe will switch shoulders ...

... which is why our name now aligns to the second sign / token and the robes of Aaron. We already secured our right to wear the robes of Aaron. We are securing our right to the robes of Melchizedek - aka to become a Priest. The law given in the temple at this stage of the endowment is the Law of the Gospel. This is the law central to this probation, this time, and this season. Here is the fifth promise of overcoming aligned to this law - or the promised reward of overcoming:

Revelation 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Eureka - I didn't quite realize this until laying this out on "paper," but not only does this promise denote an intimacy with the Savior but also a distance from the Father. The Savior takes your name to Himself, preserves it, and confesses before the Father. Think on who does / doesn't access the Father in the Temple, though I'm getting ahead of myself. This intimacy of the Savior - we'll call it the "second comforter" - is what the elect beings of this order, time, and season strive for as the proximity / intimacy with the Savior is the reward. Upon receiving the promise of the reward is perhaps when the calling and election is given. You have become an especial witness.... which leads me to the next point.

Priests are the especial witnesses. What is the reward they are striving for? A proximity / intimacy with the Father. Here is their reward from the sixth promise of overcoming:

Revelation 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I [Jesus] will write upon him the name of my God [The Father], and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

Jesus' new name is that of His role as an eternal Elohim or Father. Those who have received this reward already are becoming the Kings. I believe this order is the 7 archangels / patriarchs. What evidence do we have of this? First, look at the temple. Michael is standing in the Father's presence in the beginning. He earned that place. Peter, James, and John are never in the same space as Elohim. They are the priests. Michael is of the order of princes who are becoming Kings. As is Joseph Smith. Also, at the mount of transfiguration, the Father is enshrouded in a cloud.

Matthew 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

The Priests become princes (inheritors) and are then introduced to the Father by the Kings. Who introduces us at the veil but Peter, James and John? To whom are they introducing but the Lord Jesus Christ? The Priests introduce us to the Kings and the Kings introduce us to the Father. This is the process that is alluded to

What does this all have to do with the three degrees of Celestial glory? Well, that white stone is given upon entering the celestial kingdom for the first time. Imho, the elect who comprise Ephraim who serve as the backbone of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints already received their stones just as they already earned the robes of Aaron (think on the sign that aligns to our name.) The priests and kings that we are anointed to become does not happen in eternal worlds where there is no progression for anyone but the priests and kings - I mean think about that. If the highest degree is required for progression, why are we anointed to become priests and kings? Will we be priests and kings to static beings who do not progress? No, of course not! We are anointed to become priests and kings in worlds exactly like this one to bring about the work and the glory of God which is the immortality and eternal life of man. We have our own priests and kings (princes) in this world do we not? This is MMP.

So what is the middle degree? Here's one more quote that leaves a very big clue as to what the middle degree could be:

to know the only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how to be gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all gods have done before you, namely, by going from one small degree to another, and from a small capacity to a great one; from grace to grace, from exaltation to exaltation, until you attain to the resurrection of the dead, and are able to dwell in everlasting burnings, and to sit in glory, as do those who sit enthroned in everlasting power. And I want you to know that God, in the last days, while certain individuals are proclaiming His name, is not trifling with you or me. ~ Joseph Smith

So, you must proceed from exaltation to exaltation until you are able to dwell in everlasting burnings, and to sit in glory, as do those who sit enthroned in everlasting power. If the least degree of glory is no increase, and if the highest degree is where the Father resides in everlasting burnings - and those are both ifs - then the middle degree is this process to which Joseph Smith refers. You become a priest and then you become a king. I like that plan of salvation image shared above from the 50s where the three degrees of celestial glory are presented as a concentric circles with a circle in the center. I feel this is an accurate representation of the Father and where he resides - at the center. The galaxy is a representation of this if not an actual manifestation of this. So is the Seal of Melchizedek.





Here are the final two promises of overcoming in Revelation that testify of this process. The first is given to the princes who - upon overcoming - will then overcome as the Savior did.

Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Then as a Savior, this new King will be given the opportunity to show the greatest act of love - to descend below all before inheriting all. And this eternal relationship will be preserved forever.

Revelation 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

[Baurak Ale]

Your middle Celestial level sounds a lot like Hyrum’s Terrestrial Kingdom (minus the priest covenant connections):

“Hiram [Smith] said Aug 1st [18]43 Those of the Terrestrial Glory either advance to the Celestial or recede to the Telestial [or] else the moon could not be a type [viz. a symbol of that kingdom]. [for] it [the moon] ‘waxes & wanes’l (From a sermon transcribed by Franklin D. Richards in Words of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 24, 1 August 1843).

But it does beg the question: if “there are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another,” then what differences do these bodies grant and to what end? In other words, why do inheritors of the various levels of the Celestial Kingdom have the same type of body? I have my thoughts on this, but I want to submit this for your further consideration.

[Contemplator]

For whatever it is worth, here is the original manuscript that became D&C 131:1-4 (from the Joseph Smith Papers, https://josephsmithpapers.org/paper-sum ... -clayton/1):

Before we retired the prest. gave bro Johnson & wife some instructions on the priesthood. He put his hand on my knee and says “your life is hid with Christ in God.” and so is many others”. Addressing [p. [13]]Benjamin says he “nothing but the unpardonable sin can prevent him (me) from inheriting eternal glory for he is sealed up by the power of the priesthood unto eternal life having taken the step which is necessary for that purpose.” He said that except a man and his wife enter into an everlasting covenant and be married for eternity while in this probation by the power and authority of the Holy priesthood they will cease to increase when they die (i e) they will not have any children in the resurrection, but those who are married by the power & authority of the priesthood in this life & continue without committing the sin against the Holy Ghost will continue to increase & have children in the celestial [p. [14]]glory. The unpardonable sin is to shed innocent blood or be accessory thereto. All other sins will be visited with judgement in the flesh and the spirit being delivered to the buffetings of Satan untill the day of the Lord Jesus.” I feel desirous to be united in an everlasting covenant to my wife and pray that it may soon be.

prest. J. said that they way he knew in whom to confide. God told him in whom he might place confidence. He also said that in the celestial glory there was three heavens or degrees, and in order to obtain the highest a man must enter into this order of the priesthood and if he dont he cant obtain it. He may enter into the other but that is the end of his kingdom [p. [15]] he cannot have an increase. [p. [16]]

[Alaris]

Your middle Celestial level sounds a lot like Hyrum’s Terrestrial Kingdom (minus the priest covenant connections):

“Hiram [Smith] said Aug 1st [18]43 Those of the Terrestrial Glory either advance to the Celestial or recede to the Telestial [or] else the moon could not be a type [viz. a symbol of that kingdom]. [for] it [the moon] ‘waxes & wanes’l (From a sermon transcribed by Franklin D. Richards in Words of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 24, 1 August 1843).

But it does beg the question: if “there are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another,” then what differences do these bodies grant and to what end? In other words, why do inheritors of the various levels of the Celestial Kingdom have the same type of body? I have my thoughts on this, but I want to submit this for your further consideration.

That's interesting about the moon. When Peter, James, and John present us at the veil, we are traversing from a Terrestrial space to a Celestial space. I wonder if this is indicative of the business of the millennium - that of establishing the next generation of priests and especial witnesses.

I don't believe the inheritors of Celestial glory do have the same bodies. Joseph Smith taught we must go from a small capacity to a greater, from exaltation to exaltation until you attain to the resurrection and are able to dwell in the same everlasting burnings as those Gods who have come before. This either means you receive no celestial body until the end or, more likely, the bodies vary in glory directly attributable to the degree of light attained. Else why would Adam fall to gain knowledge unless he could gain a better exaltation and a more glorious resurrection?

[Baurak Ale]

Your middle Celestial level sounds a lot like Hyrum’s Terrestrial Kingdom (minus the priest covenant connections):

“Hiram [Smith] said Aug 1st [18]43 Those of the Terrestrial Glory either advance to the Celestial or recede to the Telestial [or] else the moon could not be a type [viz. a symbol of that kingdom]. [for] it [the moon] ‘waxes & wanes’l (From a sermon transcribed by Franklin D. Richards in Words of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 24, 1 August 1843).

But it does beg the question: if “there are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another,” then what differences do these bodies grant and to what end? In other words, why do inheritors of the various levels of the Celestial Kingdom have the same type of body? I have my thoughts on this, but I want to submit this for your further consideration.

That's interesting about the moon. When Peter, James, and John present us at the veil, we are traversing from a Terrestrial space to a Celestial space. I wonder if this is indicative of the business of the millennium - that of establishing the next generation of priests and especial witnesses.

I don't believe the inheritors of Celestial glory do have the same bodies. Joseph Smith taught we must go from a small capacity to a greater, from exaltation to exaltation until you attain to the resurrection and are able to dwell in the same everlasting burnings as those Gods who have come before. This either means you receive no celestial body until the end or, more likely, the bodies vary in glory directly attributable to the degree of light attained. Else why would Adam fall to gain knowledge unless he could gain a better exaltation and a more glorious resurrection?

Adam didn’t fall to gain knowledge; that only pertains to sojourning initiates born into mortality, which doesn’t apply to Adam. Adam is from the regions of the Elohim which means: Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they might have immortality and eternal life, and the exalting of man gives God His glory, and thus worlds are made for His children to inhabit to further His work. He comes to the world not subject to the same enemies as all others, including Jesus, do.

This does not imply that Adam’s body is different than others of the Celestial caliber; there are other doctrines at play.

I’m trying to drop some big hints without stating things I’ve been placed under a strict command not to reveal.

[Durzan]

Your middle Celestial level sounds a lot like Hyrum’s Terrestrial Kingdom (minus the priest covenant connections):

“Hiram [Smith] said Aug 1st [18]43 Those of the Terrestrial Glory either advance to the Celestial or recede to the Telestial [or] else the moon could not be a type [viz. a symbol of that kingdom]. [for] it [the moon] ‘waxes & wanes’l (From a sermon transcribed by Franklin D. Richards in Words of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 24, 1 August 1843).

But it does beg the question: if “there are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another,” then what differences do these bodies grant and to what end? In other words, why do inheritors of the various levels of the Celestial Kingdom have the same type of body? I have my thoughts on this, but I want to submit this for your further consideration.

That's interesting about the moon. When Peter, James, and John present us at the veil, we are traversing from a Terrestrial space to a Celestial space. I wonder if this is indicative of the business of the millennium - that of establishing the next generation of priests and especial witnesses.

I don't believe the inheritors of Celestial glory do have the same bodies. Joseph Smith taught we must go from a small capacity to a greater, from exaltation to exaltation until you attain to the resurrection and are able to dwell in the same everlasting burnings as those Gods who have come before. This either means you receive no celestial body until the end or, more likely, the bodies vary in glory directly attributable to the degree of light attained. Else why would Adam fall to gain knowledge unless he could gain a better exaltation and a more glorious resurrection?

Adam didn’t fall to gain knowledge; that only pertains to sojourning initiates born into mortality, which doesn’t apply to Adam. Adam is from the regions of the Elohim which means: Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they might have immortality and eternal life, and the exalting of man gives God His glory, and thus worlds are made for His children to inhabit to further His work. He comes to the world not subject to the same enemies as all others, including Jesus, do.

This does not imply that Adam’s body is different than others of the Celestial caliber; there are other doctrines at play.

I’m trying to drop some big hints without stating things I’ve been placed under a strict command not to reveal.

You speak of the Adam God doctrine or something very akin to it. It is an interesting theory, albeit one I don't buy into as its been discarded by the church since the days of Brigham Young.

[Lord of my dogs]

Here's my take on the three degrees of Celestial Glory. This is what I have pieced together based off my studies and my most sacred experiences. That said, feel free to pick apart. There will be mention of MMP, so be warned if MMP causes your temperature to rise.
The least of the three degrees is where the angels are who have no progression. When you add D&C 131 and 132 together in the OP, it's a safe assumption that the least degree is that of the angels where there is no progression. I will add one caveat - that doesn't mean that these are the angels only.

In the OP, I list out the eight promises of overcoming along with the reference in D&C about the white stone.

D&C 130:10 Then the white stone mentioned in Revelation 2:17, will become a Urim and Thummim to each individual who receives one, whereby things pertaining to a higher order of kingdoms will be made known;
11 And a white stone is given to each of those who come into the celestial kingdom, whereon is a new name written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it. The new name is the key word.

OK, so we are anointed to become priests and priestesses and Kings and Queens in the sacred, holy temple. Meaning, we are neither now. How are we not Priests? Well, we are tasting of the powers of the world to come. When we overcome, the robe will switch shoulders ...

... which is why our name now aligns to the second sign / token and the robes of Aaron. We already secured our right to wear the robes of Aaron. We are securing our right to the robes of Melchizedek - aka to become a Priest. The law given in the temple at this stage of the endowment is the Law of the Gospel. This is the law central to this probation, this time, and this season. Here is the fifth promise of overcoming aligned to this law - or the promised reward of overcoming:

Revelation 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Eureka - I didn't quite realize this until laying this out on "paper," but not only does this promise denote an intimacy with the Savior but also a distance from the Father. The Savior takes your name to Himself, preserves it, and confesses before the Father. Think on who does / doesn't access the Father in the Temple, though I'm getting ahead of myself. This intimacy of the Savior - we'll call it the "second comforter" - is what the elect beings of this order, time, and season strive for as the proximity / intimacy with the Savior is the reward. Upon receiving the promise of the reward is perhaps when the calling and election is given. You have become an especial witness.... which leads me to the next point.

Priests are the especial witnesses. What is the reward they are striving for? A proximity / intimacy with the Father. Here is their reward from the sixth promise of overcoming:

Revelation 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I [Jesus] will write upon him the name of my God [The Father], and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

Jesus' new name is that of His role as an eternal Elohim or Father. Those who have received this reward already are becoming the Kings. I believe this order is the 7 archangels / patriarchs. What evidence do we have of this? First, look at the temple. Michael is standing in the Father's presence in the beginning. He earned that place. Peter, James, and John are never in the same space as Elohim. They are the priests. Michael is of the order of princes who are becoming Kings. As is Joseph Smith. Also, at the mount of transfiguration, the Father is enshrouded in a cloud.

Matthew 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

The Priests become princes (inheritors) and are then introduced to the Father by the Kings. Who introduces us at the veil but Peter, James and John? To whom are they introducing but the Lord Jesus Christ? The Priests introduce us to the Kings and the Kings introduce us to the Father. This is the process that is alluded to

What does this all have to do with the three degrees of Celestial glory? Well, that white stone is given upon entering the celestial kingdom for the first time. Imho, the elect who comprise Ephraim who serve as the backbone of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints already received their stones just as they already earned the robes of Aaron (think on the sign that aligns to our name.) The priests and kings that we are anointed to become does not happen in eternal worlds where there is no progression for anyone but the priests and kings - I mean think about that. If the highest degree is required for progression, why are we anointed to become priests and kings? Will we be priests and kings to static beings who do not progress? No, of course not! We are anointed to become priests and kings in worlds exactly like this one to bring about the work and the glory of God which is the immortality and eternal life of man. We have our own priests and kings (princes) in this world do we not? This is MMP.

So what is the middle degree? Here's one more quote that leaves a very big clue as to what the middle degree could be:

to know the only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how to be gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all gods have done before you, namely, by going from one small degree to another, and from a small capacity to a great one; from grace to grace, from exaltation to exaltation, until you attain to the resurrection of the dead, and are able to dwell in everlasting burnings, and to sit in glory, as do those who sit enthroned in everlasting power. And I want you to know that God, in the last days, while certain individuals are proclaiming His name, is not trifling with you or me. ~ Joseph Smith

So, you must proceed from exaltation to exaltation until you are able to dwell in everlasting burnings, and to sit in glory, as do those who sit enthroned in everlasting power. If the least degree of glory is no increase, and if the highest degree is where the Father resides in everlasting burnings - and those are both ifs - then the middle degree is this process to which Joseph Smith refers. You become a priest and then you become a king. I like that plan of salvation image shared above from the 50s where the three degrees of celestial glory are presented as a concentric circles with a circle in the center. I feel this is an accurate representation of the Father and where he resides - at the center. The galaxy is a representation of this if not an actual manifestation of this. So is the Seal of Melchizedek.





Here are the final two promises of overcoming in Revelation that testify of this process. The first is given to the princes who - upon overcoming - will then overcome as the Savior did.

Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Then as a Savior, this new King will be given the opportunity to show the greatest act of love - to descend below all before inheriting all. And this eternal relationship will be preserved forever.

Revelation 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

I am surprised at your even posing this question as I know you understand the 7 levels of humanity, and on your own blog have posted it and more.

1. Sons/Servants—God’s Elect or Holy Ones (5)
2. Seraphs/Seraphim—Angelic Emissaries (6)
3. Jehovah God of Israel—A Savior-God (7)

I would suppose that levels of mankind are in direct relation to the levels in the Celestial Kingdom.

http://www.isaiahexplained.com/resource ... f-humanity

[Alaris]

I am surprised at your even posing this question as I know you understand the 7 levels of humanity, and on your own blog have posted it and more.

1. Sons/Servants—God’s Elect or Holy Ones (5)
2. Seraphs/Seraphim—Angelic Emissaries (6)
3. Jehovah God of Israel—A Savior-God (7)

I would suppose that levels of mankind are in direct relation to the levels in the Celestial Kingdom.

http://www.isaiahexplained.com/resource ... f-humanity

Busted! It really good be that simple, couldn't it? The 5th level is the first level of increase, which is obvious in the 4th promise of overcoming (which is received at the 5th level)

Revelation 2:26-28 And to him who overcometh, and keepeth my commandments unto the end, will I give power over many kingdoms; And he shall rule them with the word of God; and they shall be in his hands as the vessels of clay in the hands of a potter; and he shall govern them by faith, with equity and justice, even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star.

So the "bottom" degree within the Celestial Kingdom could just be angels with no increase. However, I feel pretty strongly it's not just angels who are confined to no increase. In other words, the bottom degree could be comprised of the angels of no increase who are confined because they did not abide the law (new and everlasting covenant of marriage) along with the angels of no increase who have not yet been given that opportunity to abide the law.

I should really name my levels like Gileadi does, though I'm not 100 percent in agreement with him on the levels. He places Savior / God at level seven, and I place Him at level eight. Level seven is for the princes / dispensation heads / patriarchs who have a proximity to the Father that the Seraphim / Priests do not.

5 - Elect (backbone of LDS)
6 - Priest (Apostles)
7 - Prince (Dispensation Heads)
8 - King (Jesus Christ)

Joshua is commanded to circle Jericho seven times across seven days. On the seventh day, Jericho is circled 7 times. So there are 7 within the 7th. Likewise, in Revelation there are 7 trumpets within the 7th seal. 7 within 7. I believe this means that upon reaching that seventh level of progression, one must rule each level of mankind in turn before proceeding to the King level. That's really just a side note to this discussion and to accentuate why I differ with Gileadi on levels.

Back to the topic at hand. Level 5 is really just Priests of becoming. Level 7 is kings of becoming. It's almost like every other level is a transition.

4 - 4 winged Cherubim / Levi / first Priesthood / sign / token / Law of Sacrifice
5 - Elect / LDS / second sign / token / Law of Gospel - Priests of becoming tasting of the power of the greater priesthood)
6 - 6 winged Seraphim / Priests / Apostles / Greater Priesthood secured / third sign / token / Law of Chastity
7 - Princes / Dispensation Heads / Archangels / - Kings of becoming

The stone is given upon entering the Celestial Kingdom the first time. This is the reward for overcoming level 3, which is the reward given upon entering level 4 which level aligns to the Tribe of Levi imho.

Revelation 2:17 To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

So, upon entering level 4 - aka the Cherubim - a white stone is given. Upon entering the celestial Kingdom, a white stone is given. See what I mean? Cherubim are the least of the angels in heaven. So, level 4 is absolutely at that lowest degree of celestial glory. If we look at the highest degree as where the Father dwells, then only level 7 beings have had the name of the Father revealed according to the 6th promise (which is given at level 7.) So, this is how the breakdown could be.

Lowest Degree - Level 4 (Cherubim)
Middle Degree - Levels 5, 6 (Priests and priests of becoming / Seraphim)
Highest Degree - Levels 7, 8 (Kings and kings of becoming)

Circling back to my earlier comment about the angels who didn't abide the law of the new and everlasting covenant of marriage - see how that fits in perfectly here with the levels of mankind? If Level 4 is the level of the Levites - who have no possession and no lands - i.e. no increase. Then, their next test is level 5 which is basically the LDS now who have the Aaronic Priesthood in our youth, which symbolizes where we came from. Part of our test now is to abide by the new and everlasting covenant of marriage. This is why we have temples everywhere churning out celestial marriages. This is part of our time, and our season.

Total side note here: My wife and I were watching a netflix show on the Masons and were wondering if the temple ceremonies they copied were tailored to level 4 as our temple ceremonies are tailored to level 5. Did their name now align to the prior sign? We did hear some of the Mason ceremonies that speak of being poor and having no possessions which is exactly a part of level 4 which is aligned to .. The Law of Sacrifice! Anyway, just some fun food for thought. Perhaps there's a mason or a mason-educated forum member who can add to / take away from this thought.

[JK4Woods]

I am pretty sure they are the Telestial, Terrestrial and Celestial.

And I'm pretty sure they aren't.
"In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees;
And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage];
And if he does not, he cannot obtain it." D&C 131:1-3

Because of this scripture people infer that there are multiple degrees to the terrestrial and telestial realms. But I am not aware that we have been given details on this or on what the second and third heavens of celestial glory are.

I’m not sure that what is printed in the Doctrine & Covenants is understood in our day as it was meant back in 1830’s.

“ In the celestial glory”...

Webster’s dictionary 1820 edition defines “celestial” as heaven:

Celestial
CELESTIAL, adjective

1. Heavenly; belonging or relating to heaven; dwelling in heaven; as celestial spirits; celestial joys. Hence the word conveys the idea of superior excellence, delight, purity, etc.


Therefore the most likely meaning of this passage of meaning is “ in heaven, there are three degrees of glory”...

Not three degrees in the Celestial Kingdom.

I think Rand nailed it.

[Alaris]

I am pretty sure they are the Telestial, Terrestrial and Celestial.

And I'm pretty sure they aren't.
"In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees;
And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage];
And if he does not, he cannot obtain it." D&C 131:1-3

Because of this scripture people infer that there are multiple degrees to the terrestrial and telestial realms. But I am not aware that we have been given details on this or on what the second and third heavens of celestial glory are.

I’m not sure that what is printed in the Doctrine & Covenants is understood in our day as it was meant back in 1830’s.

“ In the celestial glory”...

Webster’s dictionary 1820 edition defines “celestial” as heaven:

Celestial
CELESTIAL, adjective

1. Heavenly; belonging or relating to heaven; dwelling in heaven; as celestial spirits; celestial joys. Hence the word conveys the idea of superior excellence, delight, purity, etc.


Therefore the most likely meaning of this passage of meaning is “ in heaven, there are three degrees of glory”...

Not three degrees in the Celestial Kingdom.

I think Rand nailed it.

Eh ....

Let's just believe whatever's easiest and ignore the evidence that there's more to it. You're ignoring the fact that those who enter the Celestial Kingdom are given a stone where they learn about the higher order of Kingdoms plural. That's certainly evidence to there being more degrees within the Celestial Kingdom. So is the journey entry that speaks of 12 domains including the abode of the devils. So is king Follett.. Exaltation to exaltation until you are able to dwell with the gods who came before.

Pardon my frustration. I am starting to empathize with Moses spiking the tablets however.

[Baurak Ale]

I am pretty sure they are the Telestial, Terrestrial and Celestial.

And I'm pretty sure they aren't.
"In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees;
And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage];
And if he does not, he cannot obtain it." D&C 131:1-3

Because of this scripture people infer that there are multiple degrees to the terrestrial and telestial realms. But I am not aware that we have been given details on this or on what the second and third heavens of celestial glory are.

I’m not sure that what is printed in the Doctrine & Covenants is understood in our day as it was meant back in 1830’s.

“ In the celestial glory”...

Webster’s dictionary 1820 edition defines “celestial@ as heaven:

Celestial
CELESTIAL, adjective

1. Heavenly; belonging or relating to heaven; dwelling in heaven; as celestial spirits; celestial joys. Hence the word conveys the idea of superior excellence, delight, purity, etc.


Therefore the most likely meaning of this passage of meaning is “ in heaven, there are three degrees of glory”...

Not three degrees is the Celestial Kingdom.

I think Rand nailed it.

I would refute this as D&C 131 was received long after the completion of the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible and after the reception of D&C 76. Section 76 borrows the names of the degrees of glory from the passage in 1 Corinthians 15:40, which was translated by the prophet to include the words “Celestial,” “Terrestrial,” and “Telestial.”

But why these words of, as you say, the word Celestial literally means “heavenly”?

This can be easily explained. Observe how that Paul is asking two questions in verse 35 of 1 Corinthians 15. Essentially, with regards to the resurrection, he is answering “how?” and “with what bodies?”

Note then his answer to the latter in verse 41: some bodies are as glorious as the sun, others as the moon, and others are dim and variagated as the stars.

The former question is answered in verse 40, the question of “how?” I will boil this down quickly and you may examine it against Section 76 to see that this is verily true: some will come from heaven (“in the clouds of glory” with Jesus at His coming), some from the earth (terrestrial; the resurrection of the just), and some “at the end” (Greek: telos; full, matured; the resurrection of the unjust).

It is then somewhat a misnomer to refer to the degrees of glory by these names, but it works and the Lord apparently isn’t above it. I prefer Paul’s language “third heaven” to “Celestial Kingdom” since the latter implies that there are three separate kingdoms as opposed to one government with three segregated levels.

What Joseph reveals in Ramus, Illinois, is that the third heaven has within it three levels. The early records left by Joseph’s audience show that they had all the context they needed to understand this clearly.

[Alaris]

The Priests become princes (inheritors) and are then introduced to the Father by the Kings. Who introduces us at the veil but Peter, James and John? To whom are they introducing but the Lord Jesus Christ? The Priests introduce us to the Kings and the Kings introduce us to the Father. This is the process that is alluded to.

This process is referred to by our King as well:

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Jesus is speaking to His disciples here. The Priests. The Priests bring us to Christ at the veil, and Christ brings the Priests to the Father. How does He do it? Perhaps giving us that final token is related.

[kirtland r.m.]

I am pretty sure they are the Telestial, Terrestrial and Celestial.

And I'm pretty sure they aren't.
"In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees;
And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage];
And if he does not, he cannot obtain it." D&C 131:1-3

Because of this scripture people infer that there are multiple degrees to the terrestrial and telestial realms. But I am not aware that we have been given details on this or on what the second and third heavens of celestial glory are.

Nice post brianj, those who will live in the two lower degrees of the Celestial Kingdom, will live in the presence of the Father and the Son forever. "We do not know much about who will inherit two of the three degrees within the celestial kingdom".https://www.lds.org/ensign/2005/04/mess ... y?lang=eng

[Rand]

Here's my take on the three degrees of Celestial Glory. This is what I have pieced together based off my studies and my most sacred experiences. That said, feel free to pick apart. There will be mention of MMP, so be warned if MMP causes your temperature to rise.
The least of the three degrees is where the angels are who have no progression. When you add D&C 131 and 132 together in the OP, it's a safe assumption that the least degree is that of the angels where there is no progression. I will add one caveat - that doesn't mean that these are the angels only.

In the OP, I list out the eight promises of overcoming along with the reference in D&C about the white stone.

D&C 130:10 Then the white stone mentioned in Revelation 2:17, will become a Urim and Thummim to each individual who receives one, whereby things pertaining to a higher order of kingdoms will be made known;
11 And a white stone is given to each of those who come into the celestial kingdom, whereon is a new name written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it. The new name is the key word.

OK, so we are anointed to become priests and priestesses and Kings and Queens in the sacred, holy temple. Meaning, we are neither now. How are we not Priests? Well, we are tasting of the powers of the world to come. When we overcome, the robe will switch shoulders ...

... which is why our name now aligns to the second sign / token and the robes of Aaron. We already secured our right to wear the robes of Aaron. We are securing our right to the robes of Melchizedek - aka to become a Priest. The law given in the temple at this stage of the endowment is the Law of the Gospel. This is the law central to this probation, this time, and this season. Here is the fifth promise of overcoming aligned to this law - or the promised reward of overcoming:

Revelation 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Eureka - I didn't quite realize this until laying this out on "paper," but not only does this promise denote an intimacy with the Savior but also a distance from the Father. The Savior takes your name to Himself, preserves it, and confesses before the Father. Think on who does / doesn't access the Father in the Temple, though I'm getting ahead of myself. This intimacy of the Savior - we'll call it the "second comforter" - is what the elect beings of this order, time, and season strive for as the proximity / intimacy with the Savior is the reward. Upon receiving the promise of the reward is perhaps when the calling and election is given. You have become an especial witness.... which leads me to the next point.

Priests are the especial witnesses. What is the reward they are striving for? A proximity / intimacy with the Father. Here is their reward from the sixth promise of overcoming:

Revelation 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I [Jesus] will write upon him the name of my God [The Father], and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

Jesus' new name is that of His role as an eternal Elohim or Father. Those who have received this reward already are becoming the Kings. I believe this order is the 7 archangels / patriarchs. What evidence do we have of this? First, look at the temple. Michael is standing in the Father's presence in the beginning. He earned that place. Peter, James, and John are never in the same space as Elohim. They are the priests. Michael is of the order of princes who are becoming Kings. As is Joseph Smith. Also, at the mount of transfiguration, the Father is enshrouded in a cloud.

Matthew 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

The Priests become princes (inheritors) and are then introduced to the Father by the Kings. Who introduces us at the veil but Peter, James and John? To whom are they introducing but the Lord Jesus Christ? The Priests introduce us to the Kings and the Kings introduce us to the Father. This is the process that is alluded to

What does this all have to do with the three degrees of Celestial glory? Well, that white stone is given upon entering the celestial kingdom for the first time. Imho, the elect who comprise Ephraim who serve as the backbone of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints already received their stones just as they already earned the robes of Aaron (think on the sign that aligns to our name.) The priests and kings that we are anointed to become does not happen in eternal worlds where there is no progression for anyone but the priests and kings - I mean think about that. If the highest degree is required for progression, why are we anointed to become priests and kings? Will we be priests and kings to static beings who do not progress? No, of course not! We are anointed to become priests and kings in worlds exactly like this one to bring about the work and the glory of God which is the immortality and eternal life of man. We have our own priests and kings (princes) in this world do we not? This is MMP.

So what is the middle degree? Here's one more quote that leaves a very big clue as to what the middle degree could be:

to know the only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how to be gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all gods have done before you, namely, by going from one small degree to another, and from a small capacity to a great one; from grace to grace, from exaltation to exaltation, until you attain to the resurrection of the dead, and are able to dwell in everlasting burnings, and to sit in glory, as do those who sit enthroned in everlasting power. And I want you to know that God, in the last days, while certain individuals are proclaiming His name, is not trifling with you or me. ~ Joseph Smith

So, you must proceed from exaltation to exaltation until you are able to dwell in everlasting burnings, and to sit in glory, as do those who sit enthroned in everlasting power. If the least degree of glory is no increase, and if the highest degree is where the Father resides in everlasting burnings - and those are both ifs - then the middle degree is this process to which Joseph Smith refers. You become a priest and then you become a king. I like that plan of salvation image shared above from the 50s where the three degrees of celestial glory are presented as a concentric circles with a circle in the center. I feel this is an accurate representation of the Father and where he resides - at the center. The galaxy is a representation of this if not an actual manifestation of this. So is the Seal of Melchizedek.





Here are the final two promises of overcoming in Revelation that testify of this process. The first is given to the princes who - upon overcoming - will then overcome as the Savior did.

Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Then as a Savior, this new King will be given the opportunity to show the greatest act of love - to descend below all before inheriting all. And this eternal relationship will be preserved forever.

Revelation 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

You have obviously done a lot of thinking about the Temple. I just don't see most of what you elaborated on the way you do. It is nice food for thought though.

I believe that the way we draw closer to God is to become like him, and that means we take upon us the work and glory that He is engaged in. Until we bring others to Him, we are probably not going to become a branch on his vine.

[SwissMrs&Pitchfire]

God knows the end from the beginning because he is able to model every single piece of the equation. The means he uses, is for all intents and purposes a super computer (whether his own brain or the Holy Ghost's computer or an actual super-computer).

Time travel or seeing into the future psychically is absurd, but scientific modelling all the pieces is not. If you know all the parts, pieces, inputs, energy etc... you can perfectly model the whole of the system with 100% confidence. Being in and through all things (via dark matter/energy perhaps neutrinos for one) allows for complete monitoring of the system in order to be able to perfectly model it.

I personally believe that the white stone is nothing more than a tablet computer that allows us to do the work we will later have before us (which begins with modeling the entirety of the system in question). It has a user name, levels of permissions, and many utilities depending on what our role is. (Which explains why it enables us to see past, present, and future.)

James Talmage said in "the Articles of Faith" that the Holy Ghost can operate on many things at once but can only be in one place at a time. His role therefore is the super-computer operator by which he controls things as Talmage stated :

"Yet we read that through the power of the Spirit, the Father and the Son operate in their creative acts and in their general dealings with the human family. The Holy Ghost may be regarded as the minister of the Godhead, carrying into effect the decision of the Supreme Council.

"In the execution of these great purposes, the Holy Ghost directs and controls the varied forces of nature, of which indeed a few, and these perhaps of minor order wonderful as even the least of them appears to man, have thus far been investigated by mortals. Gravitation, sound, heat, light, and the still more mysterious and seemingly super-natural power of electricity, are but the common servants of the Holy Ghost in His operations.

...These mighty agencies, and the mightier ones still to man unknown, and many, perhaps, to the present condition of the human mind unknowable, do not constitute the Holy Ghost, but are the agencies ordained to serve His purposes."

So the Holy Ghost is clearly the tech guy by which things (natural and naturally spiritual) happen. Something which Celestial beings will participate in.

[Alaris]

God knows the end from the beginning because he is able to model every single piece of the equation. The means he uses, is for all intents and purposes a super computer (whether his own brain or the Holy Ghost's computer or an actual super-computer).

Time travel or seeing into the future psychically is absurd, but scientific modelling all the pieces is not. If you know all the parts, pieces, inputs, energy etc... you can perfectly model the whole of the system with 100% confidence. Being in and through all things (via dark matter/energy perhaps neutrinos for one) allows for complete monitoring of the system in order to be able to perfectly model it.

I personally believe that the white stone is nothing more than a tablet computer that allows us to do the work we will later have before us (which begins with modeling the entirety of the system in question). It has a user name, levels of permissions, and many utilities depending on what our role is. (Which explains why it enables us to see past, present, and future.)

James Talmage said in "the Articles of Faith" that the Holy Ghost can operate on many things at once but can only be in one place at a time. His role therefore is the super-computer operator by which he controls things as Talmage stated :

"Yet we read that through the power of the Spirit, the Father and the Son operate in their creative acts and in their general dealings with the human family. The Holy Ghost may be regarded as the minister of the Godhead, carrying into effect the decision of the Supreme Council.

"In the execution of these great purposes, the Holy Ghost directs and controls the varied forces of nature, of which indeed a few, and these perhaps of minor order wonderful as even the least of them appears to man, have thus far been investigated by mortals. Gravitation, sound, heat, light, and the still more mysterious and seemingly super-natural power of electricity, are but the common servants of the Holy Ghost in His operations.

...These mighty agencies, and the mightier ones still to man unknown, and many, perhaps, to the present condition of the human mind unknowable, do not constitute the Holy Ghost, but are the agencies ordained to serve His purposes."

So the Holy Ghost is clearly the tech guy by which things (natural and naturally spiritual) happen. Something which Celestial beings will participate in.

I love this. I gave a talk in church a few years ago about the prayer information system. I even gave some metrics about how the system is wireless and instantaneous across time and space - about how we can send and receive at the speed of thought + some metrics there. Here's one of my favorite quotes about the Holy Ghost I want to pair up with your post:

But the Holy Ghost is yet a spiritual body and waiting to take to himself a body, as the Savior did or as God did or the gods before them took bodies; for the Savior says the work that my Father did do I also. . . . He took himself a body and then laid down his life that he might take it up again. (The Words of Joseph Smith, p. 382; standardized)

When he comes - and I believe he is already here - he will be an IT guy. This is also why men saturate the IT field - these systems / agencies are Priesthood.

[Lord of my dogs]

God knows the end from the beginning because he is able to model every single piece of the equation. The means he uses, is for all intents and purposes a super computer (whether his own brain or the Holy Ghost's computer or an actual super-computer).

Time travel or seeing into the future psychically is absurd, but scientific modelling all the pieces is not. If you know all the parts, pieces, inputs, energy etc... you can perfectly model the whole of the system with 100% confidence. Being in and through all things (via dark matter/energy perhaps neutrinos for one) allows for complete monitoring of the system in order to be able to perfectly model it.

I personally believe that the white stone is nothing more than a tablet computer that allows us to do the work we will later have before us (which begins with modeling the entirety of the system in question). It has a user name, levels of permissions, and many utilities depending on what our role is. (Which explains why it enables us to see past, present, and future.)

James Talmage said in "the Articles of Faith" that the Holy Ghost can operate on many things at once but can only be in one place at a time. His role therefore is the super-computer operator by which he controls things as Talmage stated :

"Yet we read that through the power of the Spirit, the Father and the Son operate in their creative acts and in their general dealings with the human family. The Holy Ghost may be regarded as the minister of the Godhead, carrying into effect the decision of the Supreme Council.

"In the execution of these great purposes, the Holy Ghost directs and controls the varied forces of nature, of which indeed a few, and these perhaps of minor order wonderful as even the least of them appears to man, have thus far been investigated by mortals. Gravitation, sound, heat, light, and the still more mysterious and seemingly super-natural power of electricity, are but the common servants of the Holy Ghost in His operations.

...These mighty agencies, and the mightier ones still to man unknown, and many, perhaps, to the present condition of the human mind unknowable, do not constitute the Holy Ghost, but are the agencies ordained to serve His purposes."

So the Holy Ghost is clearly the tech guy by which things (natural and naturally spiritual) happen. Something which Celestial beings will participate in.

I love this. I gave a talk in church a few years ago about the prayer information system. I even gave some metrics about how the system is wireless and instantaneous across time and space - about how we can send and receive at the speed of thought + some metrics there. Here's one of my favorite quotes about the Holy Ghost I want to pair up with your post:

But the Holy Ghost is yet a spiritual body and waiting to take to himself a body, as the Savior did or as God did or the gods before them took bodies; for the Savior says the work that my Father did do I also. . . . He took himself a body and then laid down his life that he might take it up again. (The Words of Joseph Smith, p. 382; standardized)

When he comes - and I believe he is already here - he will be an IT guy. This is also why men saturate the IT field - these systems / agencies are Priesthood.

The SuSE Linux system I am currently working on appears to be of the Satanic priesthood

[SwissMrs&Pitchfire]

Given that Chuck Yeager did not have to go back up and fly backwards to re-sync his speech with people going slower than the speed of sound mankind learned that only perspective and not reality changed with speed. That's important to note when you do the math regarding prayer.

I do not pretend to know the mind of God but if he had this one world alone how many prayers would he have to hear, understand, and answer simultaneously? I mean (discounting him needing time for anything other than this world) 7.7 Billion people 86,400 seconds in a day, that comes out to 0.00001122077 seconds per person per day. Even if you multiply it by a time factor (due to God's perception being different from ours). 1 day = 1000 years, ergo 1 day = 365,000 days ergo 1:365,000 ergo 4.09558105 seconds per person per day to hear and answer prayers leaving not one second for anything else.

I have to admit that is somewhat disheartening in relation to a personal god. When somebody gets a patriarchal blessing that says that god is aware of them it really means something!!! I can't help but wonder how much of the prayer information system phone lines are outsourced.

[Alaris]

This poem by ww Phelps reinforces my understanding of the levels of mankind, who we are on that journey (we as in Ephraim / LDS) and even reinforces mmp.

MY OLD WHITE STONE

By W. W. Phelps

O keep my old “White stone,” Father,

O keep it till I come;

The stone I had of thee at home,

Before this world was known;

For lo! in it is my “new name”–

The name thou gavest me,

When I was wash’d and set apart

For the glory yet to be.

Eternity is thine, Father,

Age after age has gone,

And yet, among thy sons, as one,

My spirit moves divine

With light and life, and sense and love,

Through realms where wisdom’s known,

To find, by faith, my path back home,

To my gem–my old “white stone.”

The sweetest joy that seems, Father,

Is now and then a view,

Of that eternal world and you,

That flashes through my dreams,

In some blest spot that’s still and pure,

Where virtue’s bliss is known,

And where my spirit eyes can see,

For themselves, my old “white stone.”

Deseret News,

Vol. 6, p. 416


We have received the white stone already. The sign that aligns to our name now is very likely indicative of that white stone. We have inherited Celestial glory already and are now anointed to become priest and kings who pertain to the higher kingdoms.

10 Then the white stone mentioned in Revelation 2:17, will become a Urim and Thummim to each individual who receives one, whereby things pertaining to a higher order of kingdoms will be made known;
11 And a white stone is given to each of those who come into the celestial kingdom, whereon is a new name written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it. The new name is the key word.

The new name is the old name for us. We have already overcome the probations aligned to the law of obedience and sacrifice. We have secured the Aaronic priesthood and are securing the Melchizedek by tasting of the powers of the world to come. Should we overcome this probation, robes will change shoulders.

[SwissMrs&Pitchfire]

If you look at it like a tablet computer it stands to reason we used one to learn before. In vs. 10 mentioned it is interesting that it uses the wording (speaking of our tablet from the past) becoming more (new permissions/programming).

It was not a Urim and Thummim before or the wording wouldn't make any sense. For it to become one, it has to A) already exist and B) change to one.

That implies that though we knew something of our earthly missions (that is to say we had received callings that pertained to this life and we knew them), we had not seen them actually play out (seen the actual outcome and whether we succeeded or failed and to what degree). I wonder had we seen them play out as they are now doing, how much that would of changed us then and consequently now?

[LDS Physician]

Here's my take on the three degrees of Celestial Glory. This is what I have pieced together based off my studies and my most sacred experiences. That said, feel free to pick apart. There will be mention of MMP, so be warned if MMP causes your temperature to rise.
The least of the three degrees is where the angels are who have no progression. When you add D&C 131 and 132 together in the OP, it's a safe assumption that the least degree is that of the angels where there is no progression. I will add one caveat - that doesn't mean that these are the angels only.

In the OP, I list out the eight promises of overcoming along with the reference in D&C about the white stone.

D&C 130:10 Then the white stone mentioned in Revelation 2:17, will become a Urim and Thummim to each individual who receives one, whereby things pertaining to a higher order of kingdoms will be made known;
11 And a white stone is given to each of those who come into the celestial kingdom, whereon is a new name written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it. The new name is the key word.

OK, so we are anointed to become priests and priestesses and Kings and Queens in the sacred, holy temple. Meaning, we are neither now. How are we not Priests? Well, we are tasting of the powers of the world to come. When we overcome, the robe will switch shoulders ...

... which is why our name now aligns to the second sign / token and the robes of Aaron. We already secured our right to wear the robes of Aaron. We are securing our right to the robes of Melchizedek - aka to become a Priest. The law given in the temple at this stage of the endowment is the Law of the Gospel. This is the law central to this probation, this time, and this season. Here is the fifth promise of overcoming aligned to this law - or the promised reward of overcoming:

Revelation 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Eureka - I didn't quite realize this until laying this out on "paper," but not only does this promise denote an intimacy with the Savior but also a distance from the Father. The Savior takes your name to Himself, preserves it, and confesses before the Father. Think on who does / doesn't access the Father in the Temple, though I'm getting ahead of myself. This intimacy of the Savior - we'll call it the "second comforter" - is what the elect beings of this order, time, and season strive for as the proximity / intimacy with the Savior is the reward. Upon receiving the promise of the reward is perhaps when the calling and election is given. You have become an especial witness.... which leads me to the next point.

Priests are the especial witnesses. What is the reward they are striving for? A proximity / intimacy with the Father. Here is their reward from the sixth promise of overcoming:

Revelation 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I [Jesus] will write upon him the name of my God [The Father], and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

Jesus' new name is that of His role as an eternal Elohim or Father. Those who have received this reward already are becoming the Kings. I believe this order is the 7 archangels / patriarchs. What evidence do we have of this? First, look at the temple. Michael is standing in the Father's presence in the beginning. He earned that place. Peter, James, and John are never in the same space as Elohim. They are the priests. Michael is of the order of princes who are becoming Kings. As is Joseph Smith. Also, at the mount of transfiguration, the Father is enshrouded in a cloud.

Matthew 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

The Priests become princes (inheritors) and are then introduced to the Father by the Kings. Who introduces us at the veil but Peter, James and John? To whom are they introducing but the Lord Jesus Christ? The Priests introduce us to the Kings and the Kings introduce us to the Father. This is the process that is alluded to

What does this all have to do with the three degrees of Celestial glory? Well, that white stone is given upon entering the celestial kingdom for the first time. Imho, the elect who comprise Ephraim who serve as the backbone of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints already received their stones just as they already earned the robes of Aaron (think on the sign that aligns to our name.) The priests and kings that we are anointed to become does not happen in eternal worlds where there is no progression for anyone but the priests and kings - I mean think about that. If the highest degree is required for progression, why are we anointed to become priests and kings? Will we be priests and kings to static beings who do not progress? No, of course not! We are anointed to become priests and kings in worlds exactly like this one to bring about the work and the glory of God which is the immortality and eternal life of man. We have our own priests and kings (princes) in this world do we not? This is MMP.

So what is the middle degree? Here's one more quote that leaves a very big clue as to what the middle degree could be:

to know the only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how to be gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all gods have done before you, namely, by going from one small degree to another, and from a small capacity to a great one; from grace to grace, from exaltation to exaltation, until you attain to the resurrection of the dead, and are able to dwell in everlasting burnings, and to sit in glory, as do those who sit enthroned in everlasting power. And I want you to know that God, in the last days, while certain individuals are proclaiming His name, is not trifling with you or me. ~ Joseph Smith

So, you must proceed from exaltation to exaltation until you are able to dwell in everlasting burnings, and to sit in glory, as do those who sit enthroned in everlasting power. If the least degree of glory is no increase, and if the highest degree is where the Father resides in everlasting burnings - and those are both ifs - then the middle degree is this process to which Joseph Smith refers. You become a priest and then you become a king. I like that plan of salvation image shared above from the 50s where the three degrees of celestial glory are presented as a concentric circles with a circle in the center. I feel this is an accurate representation of the Father and where he resides - at the center. The galaxy is a representation of this if not an actual manifestation of this. So is the Seal of Melchizedek.





Here are the final two promises of overcoming in Revelation that testify of this process. The first is given to the princes who - upon overcoming - will then overcome as the Savior did.

Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Then as a Savior, this new King will be given the opportunity to show the greatest act of love - to descend below all before inheriting all. And this eternal relationship will be preserved forever.

Revelation 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

I've recently thought that the kingdom within which we now reside is a Telestial one ... we are in a telestial kingdom ...a kingdom we belong to either because this is what we earned in our prior existence OR this is where we're sent in order to help those who are here in their journeys (or both). Thanks for your insights!

[DJB]

The highest degree are for those in section 132, who are willing to live the celestial law of marriage (plural marriage). Lowest are for those who receive salvation, but serve those who are willing to live a higher order. Middle Kingdom are for those who don't want to become Adam's and Eve's but are willing to provide spirits for other Adam's and Eve's.